So Pope Francis CAN act quickly on cover-up charges, when he wants to

Archbishop Vigano has responded quickly and effectively to the charge that he sought to squelch charges of sexual misconduct by Archbishop John Nienstedt. (I suspect that when he released his testimony, Archbishop Vigano knew this attack would be coming, and he was ready for it.) He notes that the priest who was the main source for a New York Times story in July 2016 had not been present at the meeting under discussion, which had taken place two years earlier. And documents on file at the Vatican, Archbishop Vigano says, support his side of the story.

No doubt the argument over this incident will continue. Let the chips fall where they may. If Vigano really was involved in a cover-up, I have no interest in defending him for it. But without pretending to resolve all the issues involved, let me call attention to one sentence from Archbishop Vigano’s new statement:

On the very day the news appeared in the New York Times, on July 21, 2016, the Holy Father asked Cardinal Parolin to phone the Nuncio in Washington, DC (Christophe Pierre), ordering that an investigation into my conduct be opened immediately….

Did something strike you there? The same thing that caught my eye?

On the very day that a story broke, suggesting that Vigano had engaged in a cover-up, the Pope demanded an investigation. So we know that Pope Francis can act quickly, when he wants to.

But how many days—and months—and years—passed before he demanded a thorough investigation of Bishop Barros? Of Cardinal Danneels? Of Cardinal Errazuriz? Of Cardinal Maradiaga?

The Pope’s loyal defenders tell as that Archbishop Vigano is motivated by his personal dislike for Pope Francis. And what was it, do you suppose, that motivated the Pope to take such quick action on the charge against Vigano?

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Phil Lawler has been a Catholic journalist for more than 30 years. He has edited several Catholic magazines and written eight books. Founder of Catholic World News, he is the news director and lead analyst at CatholicCulture.org.